Although we're still a few weeks away from the draft and what might be a wild summer of trading and free agency, NHL teams are beginning to tip their hands. What's coming? A LOT of movement--buyouts, trades to save cap dollars, Euro contracts for NHLers no longer wanted--and for fans maybe a summer of activity the likes of which we've never seen before. In dear old Edmonton, the 'waiting for the paint to dry' approach of the previous administration appears to be a distant bell. There's a new sheriff in town--and he's impatient.

UFA ROUTE

The Oilers under owner Katz have spent to the cap in the past, overpaying (in dollars and term) men like Nikolai Khabibulin--which continued a trend that began in the shadow of the Pronger trade to the left coast and continued until the rebuild was put in place (finally) in the cold wintry days of 2010 January.

If we take the Oilers shopping list (top 4D, 2-way center, LW with size and skill, backup goalie) there are some interesting options: I'll list Mark Streit, Boyd Gordon, Viktor Stalberg and Anton Khudobin, but your mileage may vary.

In the past, Edmonton had to overpay to the extreme in order to attract free agents, and there are still a couple of those contracts Craig MacTavish is going to have to deal with this summer (Eric Belanger, Ben Eager). However, with Ryan Whitney, Nikolai Khabibulin, Ryan Jones, Lennart Petrell, Andy Sutton and the last of the Souray buyout dollars all in the rear view, there is an opportunity for the Oilers to quickly turn this thing around--especially in areas badly in need like center, defense and the 3 and 4 lines.

I was encouraged by MacT's words the other day in terms of free agency (approach free agency cautiously, players are often in decline stage when UFA is reached) and thought it might be a good idea to look at the "younger end" of this year's free agents.

UNDER 30, READY TO ROCK

C-R Nathan Horton, Boston: $4M this season, 27-year old is a very nice option for the Oilers. He'll have all kinds of options this summer, including a return to the Bruins if they can make the money work. I would rank this player as an ideal, but possibly unrealistic option. If MacT lands him, that should be considered a massive win.

R David Clarkson, New Jersey: $2.67M this season for the 29-year old. Although it is unlikely Edmonton would be his first option, I think he is pretty close to a 'perfect fit' for this team and perhaps worthy of an overpay. Should MacT get him, it should be considered in the same category as a Nathan Horton acquisition.

C-L Valtteri Filppula, Detroit: $3M this season, 29 years old and a famous Finn. He'd be an ideal solution for the Oilers, but Red Wings players are usually loyal to the team and this guy has enjoyed a lot of success in Motown.

L Viktor Stalberg, Chicago: $875,000 this season, he'll get a raise for sure and Chicago is unlikely to re-sign (their system is producing players at a rapid clip). Rumor has Edmonton and Montreal very interested, you can see why the Oilers would be interested in this 27-year old with size and skill.

L Bryan Bickell, Chicago: $542,000 this season, 27 years old and listed below Stalberg only because he's more likely to be signed by the Blackhawks before reaching free agency. A very nice option should he shake loose.

L Clarke MacArthur, Toronto: $3,250,000 this season, 29-years old and with some grit. Not the ideal option--the pricetag may be a little dear--but he's certainly skill enough to chip in 20 goals on what should be a strong 2line.

C Boyd Gordon, Phoenix: $1.325M this season for the 29-year old, another 'perfect fit' option for an Oiler team that badly needs help at center. The Phoenix situation is somewhat in flux, there may be an opportunity to jump in and pick up this fine veteran.

G Anton Khudobin, Boston: $875,000 this season, effective backup and 27 years old. Bruins have a nice option in the AHL and may pass on signing him. He is young enough, and good enough to be an option for the Oilers.

L Guillaume Latandresse, Ottawa: $2M this season, 29-year old has lost much of his recent career to injuries but perhaps he's turning a corner. Certainly brings size, and has scored well in the NHL when healthy.

L Patrick Bordeleau, Colorado: $525,000 this season, 27-year old is 6.06, 220 and looks and plays like an extra in Slap Shot! I don't know if MacT will devote 2 roster spots to this type of player (Mike Brown is the current fighter, but not a heavyweight) but if that's a priority this fellow fits the bill.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Craig MacTavish's point about free agents is certainly true--often NHL teams overpay for players in their 30's and end up waiting for the contract to expire so they can better use the sunk cost of a wayward contract. However, there are players--several players--who have shown well in the NHL and are some distance from their 30th birthdays.

When the opportunity to speak to these new free agents arrives, the Edmonton Oilers have a great story to tell these free agents. Objectives--playoffs, playoff wins, series victories, deep trips into the spring--are likely to happen with this Oiler team during the back half of the 2010's.

Telling that story to Viktor Stalberg, to Anton Khudobin, to Boyd Gordon, may be enough in one or more cases to win the day.

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Lowdown with Lowetide weekday mornings 10-noon on TSN 1260.

I don't know. His pop played for The Nuggets I think & Colorado needs puck moving defencemen. MacKinnon would definitely help them so I don't think it's clear who they choose. It's like Yakupov vs. Murray. The Oilers need both.

On Sportsnet Kipreos & Cox were big on MacKinnon so I guess we'll have to wait until draft day to find out.

I love the draft drama!

At least it makes it interesting. I can't see them not taking Jones. He's still my bet to be #1. If Florida kept the pick I would think different but Colorado needs a top dman more then a forward.

Make that O'Reilly ,not Landeskog , who is actually left wing -sorry for that . MacKinnon BPA and Colorado will draft him first just like we took Yakupov instead of a defenceman . Would not surprise me if Jones goes after Drouin as well falling into 3rd slot .I'd take both before Jones . MacKinnon is 1 year younger than Jones almost -11 months !

I honestly think MacKinnon will be the better player in the long run.. just my gut feeling. But I think there's enough people thinking Jones is the #1 guy, or at least these guys are close enough to being equally good, that the Avs will go with need and take Seth Jones.

I honestly think MacKinnon will be the better player in the long run.. just my gut feeling. But I think there's enough people thinking Jones is the #1 guy, or at least these guys are close enough to being equally good, that the Avs will go with need and take Seth Jones.

I think Jones will eventually be the best NHLer. Young D are tough to predict but, man this kid has tools! He gets up to full speed so quick. His first pass is excellent and he has a bomb.

He is an unbelievable athlete who will just keep getting better.

Not a knock on MacKinnon, just really like Jones.

At any rate it will be nice to actually have some suspense for the first time in quite awhile.

I honestly think MacKinnon will be the better player in the long run.. just my gut feeling. But I think there's enough people thinking Jones is the #1 guy, or at least these guys are close enough to being equally good, that the Avs will go with need and take Seth Jones.

Here's hoping this draft lives unto the hype. If it is anything like the are claiming then it a win-win for the fans. One of the reasons 2006 was so great for the league was because of the influx of new players. I'm hoping this draft does the same thing.

Anyone know what a Hellhamer is? Is that some sort of term a guy would use when talking to his Boyfriend? Must be a Roost thing.

I honestly think MacKinnon will be the better player in the long run.. just my gut feeling. But I think there's enough people thinking Jones is the #1 guy, or at least these guys are close enough to being equally good, that the Avs will go with need and take Seth Jones.

Do you really think Sakic and Roy would pass up on perhaps the next Crosby - I doubt it ? He's got potential to be best forward in league , but I doubt Jones will be best defenceman .

Do you really think Sakic and Roy would pass up on perhaps the next Crosby - I doubt it ? He's got potential to be best forward in league , but I doubt Jones will be best defenceman .

I guess we'll find out, no? As I said, I'd take MacKinnon. But I think they'll take Jones. They've got a pretty healthy stock of young star forwards, so that's my feeling there.

As far as "the next Crosby", I think that's probably an overly lofty comparison. If he was the next Crosby, yes, they'd be stupid to pass up on him, but right now, he's probably "the next Crosby" as much as the Nuge, Tavares and all the other "next Crosbys" were. I'm not saying MacKinnon won't be good, btw.. I think he'll be quite good, but every year we hear how so-and-so is going to be the next Gretzky, or Crosby. If scouts really thought MacKinnon was the next Crosby, no one would have anyone other than him as the #1 guy.

I don't think there is enough separation between Jones and MacKinnon that the Avs will pass on a need, but we'll see. At any rate, I don't think the Avs can go wrong here, much like us when we had to choose between the Nuge and the other top picks, or Hall / Seguin.

I guess we'll find out, no? As I said, I'd take MacKinnon. But I think they'll take Jones. They've got a pretty healthy stock of young star forwards, so that's my feeling there.

As far as "the next Crosby", I think that's probably an overly lofty comparison. If he was the next Crosby, yes, they'd be stupid to pass up on him, but right now, he's probably "the next Crosby" as much as the Nuge, Tavares and all the other "next Crosbys" were. I'm not saying MacKinnon won't be good, btw.. I think he'll be quite good, but every year we hear how so-and-so is going to be the next Gretzky, or Crosby. If scouts really thought MacKinnon was the next Crosby, no one would have anyone other than him as the #1 guy.

I don't think there is enough separation between Jones and MacKinnon that the Avs will pass on a need, but we'll see. At any rate, I don't think the Avs can go wrong here, much like us when we had to choose between the Nuge and the other top picks, or Hall / Seguin.

Sorry I should clarify. That was 2(?) years ago and I think the were looking at him as he is from the same town, had mad skill and was, at that time, already projecting to be a potential #1 pick, all just like Crosby. I got the impression from that, that he was projected to be the next Crosby.

Sorry I should clarify. That was 2(?) years ago and I think the were looking at him as he is from the same town, had mad skill and was, at that time, already projecting to be a potential #1 pick, all just like Crosby. I got the impression from that, that he was projected to be the next Crosby.

I'm sure it was a HNC thing.

Boy sure is quite in hear with no one yelling. Almost boring.

I do recall MacKinnon being touted as the next Crosby a couple years ago. Now it's Connor MacDavid, and, to a much lesser extent (I think) Tyler Benson.

Drouin and MacKinnon ate up Jones in both games . Jones will be facing that same sort of talent everyday in the NHL . Don't put him on a pedestal just yet , as he's getting lit up by his junior peers around his own age - MacKinnon almost a year younger . I'm not sold he's even better than his other defencemen in Rutkowski and Wortherspoon .Portland has quite the defence and team , but Halifax caused them fits both games - and that does have meaning . Droiun sure reminds one of Hopkins no doubt .

Drouin and MacKinnon ate up Jones in both games . Jones will be facing that same sort of talent everyday in the NHL . Don't put him on a pedestal just yet , as he's getting lit up by his junior peers around his own age - MacKinnon almost a year younger . I'm not sold he's even better than his other defencemen in Rutkowski and Wortherspoon .Portland has quite the defence and team , but Halifax caused them fits both games - and that does have meaning . Droiun sure reminds one of Hopkins no doubt .

They'll both be great players. Funny thing is that by my eye and most commentators, Portland has a fast transition game. That's one of the main reasons The Oil Kings had trouble with them.

WE ARE GOING OFF TOPIC HERE OILERS SHOULD SIGN A PLAYER REGARDLESS OF OUR LOCATION.

OH AND HELLHAMMER IS A BAND.

BLACK METAL FOREVER.

No wonder you're so impatient, and always screaming.

This could all come to an end, and your sanity will be restored if you just stop listening to that crap music, it's obviously corrupted your soul. Even I had a band (Freddie and the nosebleeds) that put out better ship than you're listening to.

Back away and put the bong down dude, Rick Astley is 10 times the performer, compared to that crap you're listening to.

This could all come to an end, and your sanity will be restored if you just stop listening to that crap music, it's obviously corrupted your soul. Even I had a band (Freddie and the nosebleeds) that put out better ship than you're listening to.

Back away and put the bong down dude, Rick Astley is 10 times the performer, compared to that crap you're listening to.

HELLHUMMER SUCKS! Sounds like a terrible xxx rated skin flick.

First of all, it's a terrific skin flick & second: Why would I put my bong down? It's the same one Kevin Lowe uses and he only picks the best players to be on his team!

This could all come to an end, and your sanity will be restored if you just stop listening to that crap music, it's obviously corrupted your soul. Even I had a band (Freddie and the nosebleeds) that put out better ship than you're listening to.

Back away and put the bong down dude, Rick Astley is 10 times the performer, compared to that crap you're listening to.

Drouin and MacKinnon ate up Jones in both games . Jones will be facing that same sort of talent everyday in the NHL . Don't put him on a pedestal just yet , as he's getting lit up by his junior peers around his own age - MacKinnon almost a year younger . I'm not sold he's even better than his other defencemen in Rutkowski and Wortherspoon .Portland has quite the defence and team , but Halifax caused them fits both games - and that does have meaning . Droiun sure reminds one of Hopkins no doubt .

No offence to Rutkoski or Wotherspoon who are fine hockey players but ....... You are kidding ...... Right?

That is like saying I am not sure that Ferrari is quite as fast as my Prius or Smart Car.

I think most athletes and their families are accustommed to life in other cities , just like the military . Playing in ones home city not that attractive for many , if not most . Pressures playing in home city far exceed playing elsewhere . You go where your career is best suited for individual player even though occasionally this does not happen - but that is the exception , not the rule .

I've played hockey with Tyler Benson and Sam Steel both went first and second overall in the CHL draft this year but i think they're both pretty good getting 100 points in 30 games, i had 73 points in 41 games.